Transit workers, management agree to extend contract

A possible strike by public transit workers in Washoe County has been averted – for now.

Today, Teamsters Local 533 and MV Transportation, which manages the Regional Transportation Commission's bus and RTC Access drivers and support personnel, agreed to extend the current contract another month through July 31.

"MV continues to bargain in good faith with the union and is committed to working together with Local 533 to come to a long-term agreement acceptable to both parties. MV and Local 533 are scheduled to meet in July to continue discussions," Dallas-based MV Transportation said in a statement this morning.

Gary Watson, Teamsters Local 533 president and lead negotiator, confirmed the extension agreement in a phone call with the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The union then issued a one-sentence update of its news release last week saying the two sides extended the contract.

The two-year contract was set to expire at midnight tonight, and on Sunday union members voted to authorize a strike, effectively empowering union leadership to call a work stoppage at any time starting Tuesday, according to the union.

In the news release last Friday, Watson said the two sides were "making progress," and Sunday's strike authorization vote would be a "normal part of the process" and would not initiate a strike.

Teamsters Local 533 has represented bus drivers, dispatchers and mechanics for a quarter-century, according to the union.

In its statement today, MV Transportation said the two sides have been in contract discussions since May, adding, "We look forward to continued discussions over the coming weeks so as to achieve a successful resolution."

On Sunday RTC spokesman Michael Moreno said that in the case of a strike, MV Transportation would have contingencies in place for minimal interruption of bus service across Washoe County.

"RTC just wants to make sure that customers are taken care of," Moreno said.